The 10th Annual Impact 100 Crawford County event was held on Sept. 24 at Recklein Auditorium, where they awarded a total of $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits.

This year’s theme was “Cruising into a Decade of Impact 100,” with emcees Becky Doyle and Amy Mitchell. Guests enjoyed an opening social time with food and drinks provided by the Cuba Fair Board, Frisco’s Grill & Pub, Grey Eagle Distributors and Mace Supermarket. Dinner was provided by Staples Catering, and dessert was provided by Sugar High Baking Co., Ted Drews and Shannon Tavenner.

The group’s goal is to gather 100 women who each contribute $500 annually. Funds are pooled and awarded back to the community in the form of grants. Friends of the organization help cover administrative expenses.

Impact 100 Crawford County President Cheri Schuette opened the event with a few words for the audience.

“Tonight is a very special evening because we come together not only as women who care deeply about our county communities, but as women who have the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact,” Schuette said. “So, as we begin this evening, I encourage all of us to celebrate what we have accomplished together. One woman can make a difference, but 105 coming together, some are partners, that gives us about 96 members, and can create an impact far beyond what any of us could accomplish alone.”

During the event, each applicant has five minutes to present their organization and, if awarded, how its project would impact Crawford County.

This year’s grants were awarded to The Freedom 13 for $20,000, Cuba Senior Center for $10,000, Power of Hope for $10,000, KVC for $5,000 and $5,000 for the Bourbon Youth Athletic Association.

Kelly Johnston, a representative of The Gathering Place, Cuba Senior Center, said that they want to purchase an LED sign for the building. They would be able to post community events, lunch menus and share more about what they do. 

She said that the Cuba Senior Center is a great place for anybody to get a $5 meal and make friends.

“We do so much there to treat, and to reach and connect the whole community of Crawford County,” Johnston said. “That is our goal. That is our mission.”

The Freedom 13 Founder Mark Schmitz presented the organization’s project to build a healing camp in Bourbon.

“I’m part of a club nobody wants to be a part of; I’m a Gold Star dad,” Schmitz said. “My son Jared, a 20-year-old Marine…, was killed in the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan.”

After his son’s death, he was invited to many places to give speeches, and at one event, he told a story about how a young Afghan woman was asked to speak.

“I didn’t know what was going on at the time, but she proceeded to tell a story about how she got through the Abbey Gate with her little sister and her little brother. The only thing she remembers is the name on the Marine’s vest; it was Schmitz, it was my son. Three minutes later, he was killed,” Schmitz said. “When you’re faced with a situation like this, you basically have three options: you dig a hole and you become depressed about losing your kiddo, you do nothing and just move on or you try to take their legacy and live through that legacy and build on it.”

The Freedom 13 has purchased 171 acres of land in Bourbon where they are building the first of 50 mental health healing camps for veterans, law enforcement and other Gold Star families. The plan is to build one camp in each state, with 13 homes, to help those who have put themselves in dangerous situations to protect their country or have lost a family member who died defending their country.

“Our mission is simple: help those that are still with us, help them battle PTSD, suicide prevention , depression (and) anxiety,” Schmitz said.

He said that each camp is going to cost approximately four to five million to build, and they have already raised about half the funds necessary for this first one.

Power of Hope Equestrian Center’s proposed project was Saddle Up for Hope. Jessica Lewis, who spoke on behalf of Power of Hope, told the audience how the organization has helped her son.

“We were even told that our family’s presence wasn’t needed at community events because the way he moved and interacted is unique and was unexpected, but he too is an important member of our community,” Lewis said. “Tracey (Keeven, founder) never flinched, the horse never wavered.”

She mentioned that her son has made significant progress through his interaction with the horses at Power of Hope. He has learned to speak, identify emotions, and control his body. Additionally, he has improved his sleep quality, sleeping for eight hours a night compared to the approximately two hours he got for six consecutive years of his life.

With the amazing work they do, she urged the Impact 100 members to vote to award grant money to Power of Hope for fitted, safe and sturdy saddles so the organization can keep safely helping others.

Kassey Odneal, Associate Director of KVC’s Meramec Adventure Ranch, represented the organization when asking for grant money to replace their current slide with a 12-foot Summit Express slide.

“The primary group of kids we work with are kids in residential treatment facilities. They’re kids that have had a raw deal. They’re kids that have experienced terrible things in life. They’re the kids that, when you hear their stories, they tie your stomach up in knots,” Odneal said. “If you’re anything like me, they make me want to go right the wrongs in this world because no one should have to experience the things that they do.”

She told the story about how one little girl worked hard over multiple days to pass her swim test so she could use the slide at the lake, which is now beyond repair.

For its Game Day Project, Kayla Tolliver, president of the Bourbon Youth Athletic Association, said that the organization is requesting funding to purchase spectator bleachers and everything necessary to make safe dugouts for the sports complex they are constructing.

In 2020, they purchased 38 acres by the Bourbon High School to build this complex, starting with a regulation-sized multi-use baseball and softball field with drainage, a parking lot and an ADA-accessible concrete sidewalk.

“We’re simply trying to build something meaningful, permanent and long-lasting for our town. A place that belongs to our kids, a place made for families and a place that brings communities together,” Tolliver said.

Other organizations that presented were Growing in Grace Academy, Steelville Historical Society and the Crawford County Historical Society.

Growing in Grace Academy presented its project called Growing in Grace Cove: Where Faith and Fun Grow Together.

Director of Growing in Grace Academy Jordan Jingst said the project involves updating their playground area by adding shade and new equipment.

Bob Bell, with the Steelville Historical Society, requested funding for a ceiling for the new Steelville History Museum they are building.

Lori Malcolm, with the Crawford County Historical Society, said that even though they have signs that say not to touch museum pieces, some people still do. With that, they were requesting funding for a museum reader railing system to help protect the pieces, which can also have panels on them so visitors can take self-guided tours.